Sustainable Caucasus relies on a small team of committed staff that operates across the Caucasus region from its office in Tbilisi, Georgia. With its contacts and partners in other countries of the region and further afield and an internationally representative board, Sustainable Caucasus draws from the expertise of many skilled individuals in the design and implementation of its activities.
Nina Shatberashvili – Executive Director – Has a background as an architect and restoration specialist. She has 20 years of experience in sustainable development, climate change and environmental governance project management in the countries of the Caucasus, with a special focus on the mountain areas of the region. She has been a board member of the Sustainable Caucasus for five years and is currently a Ph.D. student at Ilia State University.
Fuad Bagirov – Azerbaijan Country Representative – Holds a Ph.D. in technical science and also has a master’s degree in economics. He has in-depth experience in project monitoring and evaluation. He is a certified project manager according to the IPMA standard, and also participates in the training of applicants for certification according to this standard. He has more than 20 years of teaching experience at various universities.
Natia Chopliani – Deputy Executive Director – Has over 10 years of extensive hands-on experience in the tourism industry at the international level and is a certified member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). She has a high level of proficiency in communications, public outreach and event management and holds a master’s degree in Business Administration.
Marine Matosyan – Armenia Country Representative – Holds a Ph.D. in Geographic Science. She is an Associate Professor at Armenian State Pedagogical University and the Head of the Research Resource Centre. Her expertise include regional policy, population resettlement, sustainable tourism and development.
Nata Gogia – Projects’ Officer – Has an expertise in key aspects of sustainable development and environmental protection. Holds a bachelor’s degree in Ecology from Ilia State University, Georgia. She later pursued a master’s degree in Natural Resources, focusing on Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development at Ilia State University, for which she conducted a Master’s thesis: “Analysis of the factors affecting the motivation of water conservation and household water consumption in urban spaces, the case of Tbilisi”.
Elene Gvinianidze– Communications and Social Media Officer – hold a bachelor’s degree in geography from Tbilisi State University, and a master’s degree in water resources management from the same institution. Worked at an environmental non-governmental organization sector for 5 years as an assistant to the project manager and as a social media officer on EU environmental projects, actively participated in over a fifty trainings and obtained certification as an EU resource-efficient and clean production expert for small and medium-sized enterprises
Giorgi Kvezereli – Financial Officer – Holds a bachelor’s degree in Audit, Accounting and Control from Tbilisi State University; He has over 13 years’ experience of accounting, financial and tax audit for various businesses focused on petroleum, manufactory, GSM communication, construction, food and beverage, retail sales, medical services etc. During these years, he has gained valuable experience and familiarity with financial management, accounting, and corporate culture.
Nino Khapava – Administrative Officer – Holds a bachelor’s degree in Social-Economic and Political Geography. She has over 20 years of administrative and managerial experience in various international companies with high level of proficiency in performance management and monitoring.